Carpet-drying machine



2 Sheet-Sheet 1 INVENTORS T. ALLSOP ET AL CARPET DRYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4,

May, 15, 1923.

W TNESSES:

A TTORNEYS.

May 15, 1923. 1,455,755

T. ALLSOP ET AL CARPET DRYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: mom fillsop A TTORNEYS.

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realest May is, was.

enemas annsor AND wan'rna w. srnson, or rmnnnnnrnm, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS 1'0 THE PHILADELPHIA DRYING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' CARPET-DRYING MACHINE.

Application filed August t, 1919. Serial No. 315,123.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS ALLsoP and WALTER W. SIBSON, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Carpet-Drying Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to machines for drying carpets, or similar textiles in strip or strand form, and in which the material under treatment is continually progressed through the a paratus whilst subjected to the drying e ect of a heated medium in motion.

The invention is directed to a machine of the specified character, wherein the direction of impingement of the drying medium upon the material is reversed at intervals during the traverse of the latter through the machine.

The invention also comprehends means whereby the circulation of the treating medium is so ordered as to effect direct penetration of the material, and to thereby insure thorough drying.

The invention also comprehends a drying apparatus wherein the material under treatment is progressed in direct contact with the means by which the drying medium is heated, while being subjected, at the same time, to the circulation of said medium, as above noted, such additional treatment producing certain desirable finishing eiiects as will be more clearly pointed out in the description which follows.

The invention is further directed to details of interior construction and arrangement whereby these-various results are attained; 1 In'the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, 1S

a plan view of a drying machine convenientlyembodying our invention.

Fig. IL is a side elevation of the same, a portion thereof having been cut away, and shown in section, so as to more clearly illustrate certain details of interior construction,

t end lEig. HT, is a cross section of the drying machine as viewed in the direction of the arrows III-HI, in Figs. 1 and II.

The machine involving the characteristic features as above outlined, comprises a long, comparatively shallow enclosure 1, having a beam or width such as to accommodate carpets or rugs of maximum standard widths. The machine is preferably adapted for overhead or ceiling suspension, such disposal affording great economy in the saving of floor space. A convenient method of thus supporting the machine is shown in Figs. H and HI, where the enclosure is sustained upon transverse I beams 2, secured at one end to columns 3, of the building structure and at the other end to angle irons 4, depending from the overhead floor rafters 5.

The interior of the enclosure is longitudinally divided by transverse partitions 6, into a number of similarly, internally arranged, sequential chambers 7 7 through which the carpet passes successively in its traverse through the machine. Each of the chambers thus formed is in turn subdivided by longitudinal upright partitions 88, into a central main compartment 9, and two comparatively narrow auxilia side compartments 10 and 1.1, respectively. Spanned across the main compartment 9, between the partitions 88, is a horizontal diaphragm partition 12, running the entire length of each chamber, and interrupted at intervals as shown in Fig. I, by circular openings 13, within which are mounted a corresponding number of rotary fans 15, adapted to rotate about vertical axes. (See Fig. III.) From the drawings, it will be seen that the construction and arrangement of the apparatus as a whole is such that the central and side compartments of the several chambers are counterpart continuations' of one another, except for the interruptions efiected by the transverse partitions 6.

It will also be seen that the diaphragm 12 with its upturned edges and the partitions 88 form a closed trough structure running lengthwise of the machine at one side of the carpet and extending to the edges of the carpet. By means of this trough structure and of the fans 15 in its wall, a current of air is passed through the carpet and a definite circulation of the air is maintained, with return from one s1de of the ca et to the other outside the ed es thereof.

uperimposed above the diap ragms 12, is a heating system parallelm the carpet at one side thereof and extending throu hout the length of the .apparatus, and which in practice comprises a number of separate coils havin their convolutions '14, extending lateralfy across the successive central compartments under the combined support of a pair of longitudinally running angle ledges 16, 16, respectively secured to the partitions 88, and a central Mb 17, m the form of an I beam. As best seen in F1gs. II and III, the distribution of the heating coils is such as to cover the total areas of the several central compartments, so as to be capable of sustaining the carpet, (mdicated by the letter C, in drawmgs), d ring its passage through the machine. he

carpet may be either a single wide strand or a series of narrow strands arranged side by side, asshown in Figs. I and III. The material is drawn through the machine 1n contact with the heating means 14 in the direction of the arrows in Figs. I and II. An idler roller 19, at the opposite extremity of the enclosure, cooperates with the roller 18 in properly guidmg the-carpet.

The roller 18 is rotated, through reduction worm-gearing 20, from a pulley drive shaft 21, suitably journaled 1n bearings 22-22, mounted upon the top of the structure. The shaft 21, is further functional, through an interposed belt 25, in driving a counter shaft 23, the motion of which is inv turn imparted by bevel gears 26, to a line shaft 27. The function of the latter is to drive the several fans 15, suitable gear con'- nection bein indicated in each instance by the numera 28, in the drawings. From Fig. II, it is to be particularly noted that the driving gears for the several fan groups, are alternately arranged in reverse order,

so that they are continuously driven in opposite directions, and the air in the corresponding sequential subdivisions of the enclosure accordingly circulated in opposite directions. i

As best represented in Fig. III, the partitions 8-8 are cut away in the region of the fans 15, to form openings 30-30, and 31- 31, so that the air may be permitted to circulate between the subdivisions of the central compartment above and below the diahragm 12, through the by-passes afforded by the auxilia' compartments 10 and 11. In order to faci itate the air circulation, the 60 diaphragm is sloped at each side as indicated at 32-32. For a similar reason, the bottom 33, of the enclosure is formed at the region of each fanwith a co-axial conical slope; 35.

If desired, each of the chambers 7,1nay

be rovided with. means whereb the air wit in can be completely change at intervals by the constant admission of a pro ortionate fresh supply and a correspon ing discharge from the interior.

This may be conveniently effected by a pair of fans 36, 37, located in openings in the sidewalls of the enclosure, and operating in tandem under propulsion of a common drive shaft 38, (see Figs. I and II). This shaft receives motion through a belt 39, and a gear connection 40, from the line shaft 27, already described.

The operation of our invention is as fol lows.

The carpet, after being sized upon the back in the usual manner, is. directed through the machine face side idler roller 19, and progressed ing roller 18, whilst supported by the heating coils. Assuming that the course of circulationbe in the direction of the arrows in III, in each ofthe fan zones in one set 0 the chamber 7, it will be seen that the air passed through the partition 12 is blown upwardly through the interstices of the heating coil convolutions, and thence through the carpet. The'current is' thereafter subdivided as indicated, and returns to the suction sides of the fans beneath the by the drivdiaphragm pa'rtition 12, by by-passing through the auxiliary side compartments 10 and 11. The carpet in its traverse through the machine also runs in direct contact, with the heating pipe coils 14, which not only efi'ects athorough drying of the sizing, but also gives a gloss finish thereto. As the carpet passes further on and into the succeeding sequential chamber 7, the action of the air circulatory system, by reason of the reversed driving gear connections alup, over the ready described, is just the opposite in direction to that shown by the arrows in Fig. III. In other words, in this instance, the air passed through the artition 12 is sucked for a similar perio downwardly th'rough the carpet, this reversal being continued throughout the lengthrat-us, thereby insuring thorough drying before the material is discharged over the feed or drawing roller 18. It will be particula'rly observedthat at no time, during its passage through the machine, does any- T thing come in contact with the face of the carpet, so that the latter is positively proof the appa- Ill tected against injury. This precaution is of especial importance, in connection with the treatment of pile textures of the fact that according to characteristic 0 eration of'our invention, the air is blown t rough the composite strands of weaves of this character, and as a result a lofty appearance is im arted to the pile surface.

If desired, t e cross partitioning 6,'may

be entirely omitted and the circ lation con- By reason Ill ' pet fined to one direction only, the air being blown either upwardly or downwardly acmeans for progressing the carpet through.

the machine; a stationary heating element affording a support for the carpet during its progression; and means for circulating the air within the machine through the carpet in opposite directions in alternate ones of said sequential chambers.

3. A carpet drying machine comprising an enclosure, and means for progressing carpet therethrough; a stationary heating element affording a support for the carpet during its progression; rotary fans with their axes transverse to the carpet acting to pass air therethrough; and. partition means cooperating with said fans to cause a definite circulation of the air, with return from one side of the carpet to the other outside the edges thereof.

42 A carpet drying machine comprising an enclosure, and means engaging the carat its entering and leaving portions for progressing carpet therethrough; rotary fans with their axes transverse to the carpet acting to pass air therethrough; partition means cooperating with said fans to cause a definite circulation of the air, with return from one side of the carpet to the other outside the edges thereof; and heating means paralleling said carpet at one side thereof and affording a support for the same.

5. A carpet drying machine comprising an enclosure, and means for progressing carpet therethrough; rotary fans with their axes transverse to the carpet acting to pass air therethrough; partition means cooperating with said fans to cause a definite circulation of the air, with return from one side of the carpet to the other outside the edges thereof; and heating means in contact with one side of said carpet.

6. In a carpet drying machine, the com.

bination of means for progressing one or more widths of carpet; a closed structure at one side of said carpet extending to the edges thereof; and means in the wall of said structure for causing passage of air therethrough and through the carpet.

7. In a carpet drying machine, the combination of means for progressing and sustaining one or more widths of carpets; a horizontal closed structure subjacent to the carpet extending to the edges thereof; heating means in contact with one side of said carpet; and means in the wall of said structure for causing passage-of air therethrough and through the carpet.

8. A carpet drying machine comprising an enclosure; a system of heating pipe coils spanning said enclosure; means for progressing the carpet through the enclosure whilst supported horizontally upon said coils; and fans mounted to rotate about vertical axes for circulating the air within the enclosure.

9. A carpet drying machine comprising an enclosure divided by transverse partitions into a series of sequential chambers; means for progressing the carpet through the machine; a group of fans for each chamber mounted to rotate about vertical axes and disposed at intervals in said chamber, said fans being adapted to circulate the air over lateral courses therein; and means for driving the several fan groups in relatively oposite directions, so that the carpet is sub- ]ected to impingement in alternate reversals as. it passes successively through said sequential chambers.

10. A carpet drying machine comprising an enclosure divided by longitudinal partitions into a central compartment, and comparatively narrower auxiliary compartments, one located at each side of said central compartment; a horizontal diaphragm subdividing said central compartment, the subdivisions thus formed intercommunicating through the auxiliary side compartments; a number of rotary fans located in openings in said horizontal diaphragm, adapted to circulate the air lateral y between said central compartment and the auxiliary compartments; and means for progressing the car et through the central compartment.

11 testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this first day of August 1919.

THOMAS ALLSOP. WALTER W. SIBSON.

- Witnesses: JAMES H. BELL, E. L. Fumnmom 

